News and Updates December 08 2010
This will be the last update for this year 2010.
Northlink Ferries are providing partial sponsorship for Spirit Dancer Canoe and paddlers to come to Shetland the most Northerly group of islands in the British Isles, our hope is to provide as many communities as possible to experience our canoe as part of around Britain by paddle.( Please see under sponsors )
I have been in touch with quite a few people in Shetland of our intended visit and to experience the culture, land and its people, we as Canadians are honored to be heading your way to see your land and the people that reside there, since the year 2008 when we left London, England, I must let the people know how impacting this has been on all who have joined us from UK and Canada, there have been over 1200 British join me as well as 100 plus Canadians.
We continue to seek sponsors to help us along the way and to date this has been very successful considering the econmic climate that has occurred worldwide.
Plans are being made by key people in Shetland to help us plan an Itinerary that will benefit many communities there, there is also the strong possibility that we will winter over Spirit Dancer for a spring program 2012. this will be announced later this year when we hear more from the Shetlanders.
Lastly, we are being very hopeful to set up cross cultural relations and program for youth in particular to experience First Nations from Canada and the people of UK, we hope this program will become reciprocal.
There will be more images posted from this years journey, we thank all that have supported us and that are following our progress around the coastline of UK. Our best wishes to all for the holiday season.
Chris G. Cooper Operations and Project Manager
October 26, 2010
The Crossing to Papa Westray from Pierowall Westray, a very exposed coastline.
Spirit Dancer 2010 Orkney Islands from Bob Needham's brief perspective.
Brilliant!
A once in a lifetime experience. This 2010 trip was another wonderful opportunity for youth and adults to experience and contribute to cross a cultural exchange between Canada and the Orkneys' in Scotland. We visited Main, Hoy, Eday and Westray this year with Chris's Montreal style canoe, restricted by sea conditions from visiting more places. Yet we had more than enough to see and do on these wonderful islands.
The fury of breaking seas in Westray Firth on the ebb tide ' Very humbling '
Islander hospitality was exceptional with many new friendships formed. I hope we Canadians can also host some of our Orkadian friends in the not too distant future. The canoe is stored in Kirkwall waiting for 2011 canoeing in Orkney and Shetland. Thanks to Johnny and Barbara Johnston for putting up with me and being so helpful with many of the details needed for a successful canoe journey. Please see the Spirit Dancer web site for other names and pictures of the wonderful people who made our trip a success : http://www.spiritdancercanoejourneys.ca/ .
We were treated to an enthusiastic welcome by Fiona MacNab and her class at Glaitness Primary School in Kirkwall (http://glaitnessprimary3and4class.blogspot.com/). A class contest to design an emblem for the spray cover of the Spirit Dancer was won by Molly who designed a killer whale with a puffin head tail. The whole class created many excellent designs. Molly painted her design on the spray deck of the canoe for all future paddlers to see. We were also treated to music by James, a young piper playing for us while he was standing in the stern of the canoe. Many of the class, their parents, friends and crew helped refurbish the First Nations art on the spray cover under the direction of artist Brandon Gabriel (also a canoe puller) of the Kwantlen First Nations. Thanks to Barbara Johnson for sacrificing her watercolour brushes! Thanks also to Suzie Rendall, Claire, Ellen, Rosie and Molly, patient artists all. Interestingly, artist Brandan's home is near Fort Langley, formerly an important HBC trading post near present day Vancouver.
The Glaitness Primary School has also partnered with their canoe family, the Outma Squilx Cultural School in Penticton B.C. These First Nations students from Canada and shared their culture during their visit to Orkney last summer.
Folks on Eday with a population of 150 people were very hospitable. Ranger Gillian Skuse and her husband John, among others, were vital for our accommodation and success on Eday. Many sights and people to see here. John was instrumental in launching Spirit Dancer for the journey to Westray from Eday. We had the privilege of hosting approximately 1/3 of the population for short trips in the canoe. Thanks also to John Burr who took us on a tour and visit to Ernie Miller's old time store and restored tractor collection and John and Jane Booth for their bus and shetland ponys.
Looking over to the Isle of Rousay and the Westray Firth from Westray.
A surprise welcome awaited us at Rapness on Westray, with chocolate bars and oranges offered by Suzie and Raymond Rendall. A welcome refuelling for the crew. Amazing accommodation was offered at the Lanskaill West Manse by Sandy and William McEwan and also the local Church of Scotland Kirk courtesy of Minister Ioin McDonald and congregation, which was gratefully accepted . These folks added to our crew, paddling hard later that evening from Rapness to Pierowall. Sam Harcus and the local Westray Sailing Club crew monitored our safe progress in some windy weather. This island is one of the most amazing places for seabird photography. The beach west of Pierowall has an amazing ancient Viking dig and spectacular sunsets.
You must get your tides right when crossing Westray Firth from Rousay to Westray!
People and music are a big part of Orkney. The Kirkwall Pipe Band is an excellent introduction to the islands. Groups such as “The Chair” and “Saltfish 40” are among many good bands playing and recording at present. (Saltfish 40 CD has just been released at the end of July) Weekly concerts put on by the Kirkwall Pipe band exposed us to many talents from a harpist, pipers, fiddlers, singers, poets and mixed bands, very entertaining.
The scenery and wildlife were amazing, seascapes, cliffs and rolling farmland. Loved the Atlantic puffins, one of many nesting birds on the islands. Fascinating architecture abounds, from St. Magnus Cathedral, city buildings, castles, houses and crofts both occupied and abandoned to keep the observer and photographer busy.
An assortment of stones on the beaches of Eday, Orkney.
For those wondering about the weather, it is ideal for outdoor and indoor activities as it is neither too hot nor too cold.
For history buffs, we Canadians have strong ties to the Orkneys and Shetlands where many of the Hudson’s Bay Company staff were hired to work in Canada during the fur trade. Farther back the Orkneys were a part of Norway. Earlier, Pict and Viking farmers colonized the islands in the past long after eras of stone, bronze and iron age settlers. Many settlements are remarkably preserved and interesting to explore. Sights such as the Ring of Brodgar were amazing at sunset.
Thanks also to our pre-trip hosts, John Johnstone of Glasgow and Alan Beaton and Roz of Alford for their generosity, tours of the beautiful countryside including Alan's drive to our start in Thurso. Thanks also to May in Dundee.
Contributed by Bob Needham Spirit Dancer crew member.
The magic of the sea at Birsay, Orkney
News and Updates July 16th 2010
This is a final update while we are still in Orkney. We will post more images on the website when we arrive back home.
There are many many thanks to so many people here in Orkney I will attempt to recognise as many as possible. Our hosts Johnny and Barbara Johnston Mainland Orkney, Suzy and Raymond in Kirkwall who hosted Richard and Brandon, Andrew and Irene Dreiver storage of Canoe, Lesley from Orkney County Council storing Spirit Dancer, Sam Harcus on Westray helping in so many ways, Iain
Mc Donald minister of the Kirk Westray, Sandy and Willie at the West Manse, Westray.
Orkney Islands Council Marine Services sponsorship David Sawkins, Gillian ( Ranger ) and John her husband on Eday for organising our stay and to Portage our canoe to Fersness Bay.
Molly who painted the Puffin / Orca on the canoe, Fiona MacNab of Orcadia Images, to all the paddlers who have joined me over the past 4 weeks over 250 in all.
I am in the process of making contact with community members in Shetland for the 2011 season and to try tie in Spirit Dancer with the tall ships event, we hope that we will more information about this and post any recent news on our website.
Best regards to all who are following us. Chris G. Cooper Operations and Project Manager
News and Updates July 13, 2010
Sand Dunes on the northwest coast of Westray.
A week has passed and so many stories to tell. Here are a few. We traveled from Eday to Westray in calm seas along the coast of Faray to Rapness. We took a third of the islanders from Eday out in Spirit Dancer. Thanks to Gillian and John for helping organise us. We had a great get together with the locals at the Hostel ( evening presentation ). We photographed there for three days.
Epic Portage on Eday with Spirit Dancer
We arrived on Westray at Rapness to an awaiting group of local people. They adopted the crew and off we went to the West Manze which is a beautiful home located on the top of a hill overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. So many thanks to Sandy and Willie. We stayed five days then went off to the Kirk (Church) from the invite of the local minister Ioin Mc Donald. We had a super time on Westray.
John and Jane Booth's two week old Shetland Ponies on Eday, Orkney
From Rapness to Pierowall was an eight mile journey in rough seas and strong winds. Six local people joined me for a thrill of a life time as we were tossed around a fair bit in a following sea. It took two stern rudder prys to keep the canoe straight. Sea state conditions a 4. Boy this is a wild place looking right out to the Atlantic.
Northeast coast Westray. A wild ride. (Photo Credit Louis Pottinger)
We have now arrived back in Kirkwall and will be off to Rousy for a day if all goes well. We will be home for a short rest on the 21st of July then off up the BC Coast to Burnett Bay.
Regards to all, Chris G. Cooper Operations and Project manager.
Puffins on Westray - an amazing place.
News and Updates July 5th 2010
Our crew arrived on Eday Saturday July 3rd after waiting for weather to change, unfortunately we had to ship Spirit Dancer on the ferry to position ourselves for Westray July 6th.
London Bay Dunes on Eday (photo by Bob Needham)
The people of Eday have been very gracious hosts and have helped us with accommodation and transportation during our stay, we have been able to take out over 50 islanders here in Spirit Dancer and it has been most rewarding for all, the islands here are very exposed to sudden changes in weather so therefore short trips out of the harbour on Eday were the best we could do, today was very good weather with 14 to 20 knot winds so managed three trips today.
Paddling around Eday, showing the colours (photo by Bob Needham)
We are preparing for our departure off the beach in Ferness Bay tomorrow morning headed for Faray on the east side and onto the southend of Westray, if all goes well we should arrive in Rapness by lunchtime, if we have enough energy we will try for Pierowall on the same day, it has been an extrodinary 3 weeks since we arrived, with great welcomings from the local people, we are staying in a Hostel which has been put on by the local community.
There will be a more detailed report when Keith my website designer is back from holiday July 12th or so, our plan is to be on Westray til July 10th and weather depending depart for Kirkwall.
Regards to all who are following our progress, an amazing experience for all.
Chris G. Cooper Operations and Project Manager
An amazing spot on Eday across from Calf of Eday.
News and Updates July 1st 2010
Well we have had a brilliant time here in Kirkwall, Orkney, but guess what? The weather has now got us in her grip and has delayed our launch for at least a day. Reports from the Met Weather office Scotland are forecasting gusts of 40 knots plus, so hence, no departure today July 1st.
Kirk and Ann Wipper from the Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterbourough, Ontario have departed for Northern Scotland by car and have had the most marvelous time during their short stay here. We took them to meet Douglas Montgomery, one of Orkney's finest fiddlers. On the island of Hoy we met with Jimmy Moar who was interviewed for our film last year in Stromness.
The Ring of Brodgar
We have one more Canadian, Richard Wagers, coming today so we should have a crew of eight to nine for our crossing to Rousy and beyond to Eday and Westray.
We will remain optomistic that the weather will settle and allow us to carry on to the outer islands. Spirit Dancer in the past week has taken out well over 100 people, including many children and parents.
So that's it for now. A few more images will appear in the next day or so. We are off to see the puffins at Birsay, walk the cliffs and admire the power of the ocean.
Regards to all, Chris G. Cooper Operations and Project manager
On the edge at Birsay (photo by Brandon Gabriel)
Birsay North west coast of Mainland Orkney. Magic! (photo by Brandon Gabriel)
Looking across to Noup Head on Westray, Orkney
News and Updates June 26th 2010
For interested followers and paddlers joining me this season, Barbara, Bob and I are in Kirkwall and have been here for a few days, have been out in Spirit Dancer with the locals twice and great to be out on the water again, we are preparing for a 14 day trip through the Northern Isles to Westray and Papa Westray, although a short journey we have to be prepared to work with the weather.
Orkney Fiddler Douglas Montgomery one of the Finest in the Isles.
If the weather holds we will reurn to Kirkwall through the Central Isles touching the following islands Faray,Eday, Sanday, Shapinsay and back to Kirkwall on mainland Orkney.
There is a lot of preparation for the journey including repairs to all port hole covers as the pull tabs on the covers have eroded away, so they have to be hand sewn all 18 of them!! Radio Orkney will announce our departure time July 1st from Tingwall and depart to Rousay from there.
Kirkwall Marina Barbara Cooper, Kirk Wipper, Yours truly, Ann Wipper and Johnny Johnston.
We will have the itinerary up for July 1st and it will vary depending on the weather conditions each day,we monitor Wind Guru for accurate forecasts for sea state conditons and wind speeds by the hour, it is not like the BC Coast where you can very quickly get off the water and have the protection of the trees, there are no trees here!!
Other sites we monitor are Magic Seaweed and Met weather office for up to date information.
More updates to follow on Maps and Legs ( Itinerary ) for July 1st
Launching Spirit Dancer into the harbour at Kirkwall
June 19, 2010 -
If you need to contact Chris while he is in the Orkneys, his mobile phone number is 07901 397 935
Fog House at Benachie near Inverurie, the structure would be of Victorian times.
News and Updates June 12 2010
We are only a few days away from returning to UK and Orkney, any paddlers and non paddlers are welcome to join us while we are traveling with Spirit Dancer canoe through the islands of Orkney, we have 7 Canadians coming over 2 of them are from Ontario who founded the Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough their names are Ann and Kirk Wipper, Kirk came over by surprise in 2008 and saw me off in London on the river Thames.
We will do our best to do updates when we can in Orkney, by July 1st we should have a pretty good idea as to our direction of visits and itinerary, weather will dictate where we are headed and when we can be on the water, we will have a mobile phone with us and messages can be received, we will be out for approximately 18 days, we do have British paddlers joining us also so all in all it will an amazing experience.
Shetland is next year 2011 and I will be making contact with the appropriate people, this will require some sponsorship from both Canada and UK.
To all who have joined us which is approaching 1000 Brits now plus 80 Canadians all the best.
Regards Chris G. Cooper Operations and Project Manager
News and Updates April 25th 2010
Fellow adventurers our journey this year will be in Orkney and will depart from Kirkwall July 1st until July 18th. This is a very short season for Spirit Dancer canoe as funding has not made it possible to move on til next year to Shetland. My hope is to have more sponsors involved for next year to help with ongoing expenses and this continues to challenge me more that anything else. Paddlers wishing to join me this year are more than welcome to be part of this year's journey so if you drop us an email and phone number we will get back to you. I personally arrive in Orkney June 23rd.
I will be out of touch until I arrive back from Baffin Island June 3rd but my wife Barbara will return inquiries until this time.
Our itinerary for the outer islands of Orkney will not be posted til early June. There will be changes to the overall website in June, new pictures and video should go up in July.
All the best to all who are following us and thanks for all the comments of encouragement that are posted on supportive emails until June. Best wishes.
Chris G. Cooper
Operations and Project manager
News and Updates January 31st 2010.
The most recent news is the film of the first viewing of last years three months on the Scottish coast with Spirit Dancer canoe. It was produced by Don Jonasson from Ancortes, Washington state USA and shown at the VIMFF Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival so if one is so inclined you could go to Google and go to VIMFF and to speakers and find details on this. It was a very successful first viewing in Vancouver.
There are plans for more viewings of the British Isles by Canoe ' Spirit of the People' over this year and we will let people no when, the next viewing will be March 25th 2010 in Pitt Meadows at the Heritage Hall at 7:00 pm, all proceeds raised go towards supporting this project.
In additon to the update today we apologise for any inconvience as our website was down ( tampered with ) for about two weeks. Everything is fine now.
For this summer, paddlers wishing to join me in Orkney from Canada should get in touch with me soon as we will have very limited spaces, our plans are to visit many more of the islands and a rough itinerary will be posted closer to the date of departure, this year will be shorter as we plan on being in Orkney from June 20th to July 20th then return to Canada, I am in the Arctic from May 4th to June 13th so I won't be available for this duration.
My wife Barbara will respond to inquiries emails and phone calls while I am away.
I would like to thank all who have supported this journey the people of the Scottish coast , and the Southcoast we thankyou so much for your generous support and encouragement, it has been an amazing experience for all, to date we have had over 800 people from Britain and 70 Canadians paddle with us around that magnificent coast.
Spirit Dancer I'm sure will remain in UK for years to come and continue to travel its coast and host the people to travel with us. The other great possibilities now are cross cultural and educational programs that will benefit youth and young adults, we will be making changes to our Mission Statement in the next month.
Thanking all who have supported me and the Spirit Dancer teams.
Chris G. Cooper Operations and Project Manager.
